Page 60 of Sold to the Nalgar
Already it had begun. He could sense it. The faint, flickering traces in her scent. The subtle shift in her body’s energy. She would grow stronger. Faster. Her senses would sharpen. Her body would begin to adapt to this world.
Tohim.
Not strong enough to challenge him—not yet. He was still far too powerful for that. But strong enough tocut. Toscar.
He rather liked the idea.
Her mouth, defiant. Her eyes, alight with hatred as she lunged at him with the small blade. That moment when steel had pierced his chest—delightful. The shock in her face when he hadn’t fallen. When he’d only smiled.
That spark inside her.
Thatfire.
He craved it.
But fire could become a threat. And she would not stay docile. She would grow restless again. Discontented. She wouldprovokehim, test his limits, testhers.
She would try to wound him.
He welcomed it.
But another part of him—quieter, more dangerous—wanted something else now. Something worse.
He wanted hertrust.
He wanted her to look at him without fear. To touch him without trembling. Tochoosehim, even in captivity. Even after all he’d done.
He had taken her freedom. He couldn’t give it back.
But maybe…
Maybe he could give her something else.
A purpose. A kingdom. A place at his side, not just in his bed.
He would have to be careful. Calculating. Patient.
She was clever. Fiercely so.
She would see through manipulation.
She already had.
But perhaps that, too, was part of the game. The seduction. Not of her body.
Of herwill.
He looked down at her.
Cecilia stirred slightly, her brow creasing. A whisper of discomfort in her dreams. His thumb traced the curve of her hip.
“You will fight me again,” he murmured aloud, voice barely above a breath. “And I’ll let you. Because I’d rather burn than have a caged thing lying at my side.”
He closed his eyes.
You are mine,he thought.
But I want you to choose it.
